1
as in inspires
to fill with courage or strength of purpose
a pep talk that encouraged the team to get out there and win
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in promotes
to help the growth or development of
asserted that the government should be encouraging small businesses, not smothering them with regulations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in provokes
to rouse to strong feeling or action
the movie's cheap special effects will not encourage audiences to sit on the edge of their seats but to roll in the aisles with laughter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in urges
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action
the pastor continues to encourage the couple to work out their problems in hopes of saving their marriage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of encourages
Each line encourages a body to shift when uttered or even when read silently to oneself.
—
Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
To her daughter, 8-year-old Hazel (Nola Wallace), Paula is the fun parent, a mom who encourages ice cream for dinner, embraces cursing, enthusiastically participates in TikTok dances, and even coaches her daughter’s youth soccer team.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 29 May 2026
Merchandise is media and encourages engagement and brand love.
—Jay Deutsch, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Santa Clara County Registrar Matt Moreles says the office is grateful for all the submissions and hopes the contest encourages voter participation and not just for this year’s elections.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Removing a small amount of the plant encourages it to produce more branches near the base, increasing the total number of flowering stems per plant.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
The massive mall makeover is being done under the Live Local Act, a controversial state law that encourages developers to produce mixed-use projects with affordable housing in exchange for tax incentives and a streamlined process that overrides some local building controls.
—Amanda Rosa
may 28, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026
One Build session encourages the use of agentic AI to port x86 applications to Arm versions of Windows.
—Chris Hoffman, PC Magazine, 28 May 2026
This reminds us that faith and trust in God are what truly matter, and encourages us to strengthen our relationship with Him through our actions and devotion.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2026
Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
To her daughter, 8-year-old Hazel (Nola Wallace), Paula is the fun parent, a mom who encourages ice cream for dinner, embraces cursing, enthusiastically participates in TikTok dances, and even coaches her daughter’s youth soccer team.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 29 May 2026
Merchandise is media and encourages engagement and brand love.
—Jay Deutsch, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Santa Clara County Registrar Matt Moreles says the office is grateful for all the submissions and hopes the contest encourages voter participation and not just for this year’s elections.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Removing a small amount of the plant encourages it to produce more branches near the base, increasing the total number of flowering stems per plant.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
The massive mall makeover is being done under the Live Local Act, a controversial state law that encourages developers to produce mixed-use projects with affordable housing in exchange for tax incentives and a streamlined process that overrides some local building controls.
—Amanda Rosa
may 28, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026
One Build session encourages the use of agentic AI to port x86 applications to Arm versions of Windows.
—Chris Hoffman, PC Magazine, 28 May 2026
This reminds us that faith and trust in God are what truly matter, and encourages us to strengthen our relationship with Him through our actions and devotion.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encourages
Verb
-
That's what inspires me — being able to support them.—
Loureen Ayyoub,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
-
After learning their rent is being raised, the pair embark on a reckless night out that inspires an impulsive idea of faking a movie and seeing who shows up.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Plus, even when cleaned, the rough, rusty surface promotes more clinging clippings and the problem continues.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 June 2026
-
An electric boat promotes responsible experiences, operating emission-free and with reduced noise pollution.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Such a statistic often provokes a familiar gamut of responses from those who read it, from shock, disgust and anger to a debilitating sense of helplessness.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
-
Likewise, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon recently warned that the bond market will ultimately prove to be the factor that provokes some action from DC when investors begin to demand higher premiums to continue buying debt.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
The Bay Area Host Committee urges drivers to plan for extra time and heavy congestion before and after matches.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
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The city urges residents to report coyote sightings by calling 3-1-1 or making a report online.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
7 June 2026
Verb
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As guests don waders and walk into the shallow bay to the floating baskets where Navy Cove cultivates its bivalves, co-owner Eric Bradley shells out oyster-farming facts.—
Jennifer Stewart Kornegay,
Southern Living,
30 May 2026
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Research by Gao, Niu, and Yu published in Frontiers in Psychology found that intellectual humility in leadership cultivates team environments rooted in trust and collaboration, where leaders lean on collective wisdom rather than individual authority.—
Mary Hemphill,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Grounding might include a Ku Nye full-body massage inspired by ancient Tibetan healing traditions that stimulates the meridian system, acupressure, kneading, deep-tissue techniques and a Tibetan head massage.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
Bloodwork found that Fasone was experiencing elevated levels of prolactin, the hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that stimulates lactation and influences fertility.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Verb
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The app reads flights and stays, checks ahead, then nudges travelers toward choices that may save them from last‑minute airport purchases or an overstuffed suitcase filled with the wrong gear.—
Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone,
Miami Herald,
9 June 2026
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Even her mother, touchingly, nudges Suzanna from the nest, refusing for her daughter’s sake to cling to their weekly routine.—
Julius Taranto,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
Verb
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The shift also fosters local partnerships.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
3 June 2026
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Not knowing the exact solution and going outside your comfort zone fosters creativity and skills growth.—
Kate Wieczorek,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encourages.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encourages. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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